Half to eleazeb ainswortit



(No Model.)

0. W. BRINK.

GAFI' CLAMP.

No. 349,834. Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

N. FUERS. Pnm-Lnhagmpher. wasmngwr n. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEn CHESTER lV. BRINK, OF \VILMINGTON, DELAVARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO ELEAZER AINSVORTH, OF SAME PLACE.

GAFF-CLAIVI P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,834, dated September 28, 1886.

Serial No. 203,131.

(No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHiis'rnii W. DRINK, a citizen of the United States, `residing at \Vil niington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Griff-Clamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaiiis to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ol" this specification.

In tlieusual method of rigging ships, schooners, &e., the gaff is supported entirely by the lialyards, the gaf'f itself having` an open jaw, which rests against the mast, and a looselyfitting baiid,whicli is attached to the two ends of the jaw, passing around the mast. The object ot' this band is to hold the gall' to the mast, and it is ordinarily loose, so as to enable the sail to be readily hoisted and lowered. The gai'f being entirely supported by the lialyards, in case they break, as the)r frequently doin storms or squalls, the sail drops, and owing to this many vessels are lost.

The object of this invention is to provide such an attachment between the gaff and mast as will not interfere with the hoisting and lowering ofthe sail, but which will enable the gaff to be quickly and easily clamped to the mast, so that in ease the halyards break the gatf will be, nevertheless, supported in proper position.

To this end theinvention consists in a flexible clamping-band carried by the griff-jaw, which can be quickly loosened and tightened from the deck. This connection can also be used between the boom and mast, instead of the xed screw-clamps which have hitherto been used.

The invention is illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view of aboat provided with the improvenient. Fig. 2 is a detached plan View of the clamp applied to the end of the gaff. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a detail section in a plane indicated by the line et 4.

A is the mast of the boat, B the boom, G the gaff, and D the sail.

E is the gaftjaw, which consists of two horizontal connecting-amuse ,and two laterallyprojecting arms, b I, which are suitably curved to tit the mast. The gaitinay be either rigidly secured to the jaw or connected thereto by any desired means. Preferably it is secured thereto by a universal joint, which will permit the to be turned in any direction independently of the jaw, such a joint being shown in the drawings.

F is the clampingband,whicli consists of a flexible metallic band which is supported upoii the exterior ofthe arms I) b of tliejaw and eiicrcles the mast. The two ends of this band are secured to a tightening-lever, G, which is pivoted on a bolt, c, located between the arms e a of the jaw. The two ends of this band are secured to pins d d, carried by the tightening-lever on each side of the pivot-bolt. The band is held in position on the jaw by means of raised overlapping edges e c on the jaw,aiid by the arms a a. Then the tightening-lever is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the band will be loose and the sail may be raised and lowered; but when the handle g of the lever is moved toward the mast (in the direction of arrow h) the band will be tightened and will clamp the jaw firmly to the mast, thus supporting the gaff independently of the halyards. This clamping may be done in a nioments time, and by the use of suitable tackling may be easily accomplished from the deck ofthe vessel. To indicate how this may be done, two eyes, fi and 7s, are shown, carried by the jaw on opposite sides of the lever, and an eye, Z, is shown on the end of the lever. A rope or cord, m, secured to the eye of the lever passes in opposite directions through the eyes t' and k to the deck. Apull on one end of this rope will clamp the band, and a movement iii the opposite direction will loosen the same. The ropes may be secured in either position at the deck.

This clamping device not only serves to hold the gaff in any position desired and to be instantaneously operated, but it also prevents the sail from ruiming in a blow, and may be also utilized in hoisting the sail.

IOO

I claim as my invention- `1. A clamping device for securing the gaff Vor boom of 'a vesseI to the mast, consisting of a. flexible tightening-band carried yby the gat o1l boom and encircling the mast, saidy band being arranged to be tightened and loosened, y in combination With mechanism for tightening and loosening said band, substantially as seti forth.

2. The gaff and a, tighteningdever pivotailly connected thereto, in combination with a. tightening-band which encircles the mast and is secured at opposite ends to said lever, substantially'as setforth.

`3. A gaff-jaw and a tightening-lever pivoted thereto, in combination with a. flexible tightening-band which enciroles the mast and is attached at opposite ends to said lever on either side of the pivotal point thereof, substantailly as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER XV. BRINK.

Vtnesses: E. AINsWoRTH,

LEVI A. BERTOLETTE 

